Rick Pitino selected to Basketball Hall of Fame

Apr. 5, 2013
|

No. 2 Louisville's Rick Pitino. $4,973,343.In July 2012, Louisville and Pitino agreed to a new contract that extended his term through June 2022. His basic annual compensation is scheduled to remain $3.9 million throughout the deal, but he will receive a series of five $600,000 lump sum payments ($3 million altogether) if remains Louisvilleā??s head coach on March 31 of 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022. / Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports

by The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal

by The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal

ATLANTA -- University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino is expected to be selected for enshrinement into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

The official announcement will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Atlanta. The 60-year-old Pitino, who was also a finalist last year, could become the first coach to win NCAA national titles at two schools later that day.

Kentucky won one of its eight NCAA titles in 1996 under Pitino.

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said Thursday that Pitino's induction was long overdue.

"Should've been (in) last year, but I don't see any way in the world that he wouldn't be in the Hall of Fame," Boeheim said. "He's got better credentials than probably 80% of the coaches in there."

Pitino guided the Cardinals to their 10th Final Four appearance and the third in his 12 seasons at the helm. The Cards take on Wichita State Saturday and if they win would face the winner of Syracuse-Michigan on Monday night.

According to news reports, former University of Houston coach Guy Lewis, former UNLV and Fresno State coach Jerry Tarkanian and NBA defensive specialist Gary Payton (SuperSonics, Lakers and Heat) also made the Hall.

The Hall of Fame in February had named 12 finalists for 2013. Finalists needed votes from 18 of 24 members of the Honors Committee to be selected.